Wind-box for bridge-walls.



No. 723,597. 4 PATENTED MAR. 24, 1903.

' E. J. GORDON.

WIND BOX FOB. BRIDGEWALLS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 15, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

I ghbemkoz zi /2:13 W Q I 0 c 1 B9 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELONSO J. GORDON, OF GREENVILLE, MICHIGAN.

VVlND-BOX FOR BRIDGE-WALLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 723,597, dated March 24, 1903.

7 Application filed August 15,1902. gerial No. 119,787. (No model.)

To etZZ whom it mzty concern:

Beit known that LELoNsoJ. Gonooma citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Greenville, in the county of Montcalm and State of to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in wind-boxes for bridge-walls; and its object is to provide a device that can be conveniently covered byv the bricks of the wall and thus protected from the fire, to provide means for conveniently adapting the same to fit various lengths of bridge-walls, and to provide the same with certain new and useful features hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention consists, essentially, in abox of substantially rectangular form made in sections, with recesses to receive the couplingfastenings, and provided with a forwardly-extended portion having ribs to space apart the bricks of the wall to form recesses in the wall and in various features of con-,

struction and adaptation hereinafter more fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a bridgewall and a vertical section of the side walls and grates with my device arranged therein; Fig. 2, a vertical section of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, an isometrical perspective of my improved wind-box detached and with the end plate removed; Fig. 4, a detail in vertical section, showing the means for coupling the section; and Fig. 5, a detail plan of a portion of one of the grates.

Like letters refer to like parts in all of the figures.

A A represent the side walls of the arch. B is the bridge-wall, which incloses the wind-box and is provided with a series of recesses 0 close above the rear end of the grate F. The bricks between the recesses are spaced apart by ribs E on the forwardly-extended portion G of the wind-box G. These ribs also extend upward a short distance at the rear of the recesses, thus forming thickfor escape of air from the wind-box into the The main part G of the wind-box is a hollow structure preferably made rectangular in cross-section and of such vertical dimensions as will equal an even number of courses of bricks in the bridge-wall, and the forward extension G of the same is preferably made of a depth equal to one course of bricks and extends to the front face of the wall and abuts against the ends of the grate-bars. The windbox is thus covered and protected by the bricks or the grate-bars except at the rear of the recesses. The depth of the recesses, the air rushing through the openingsD, together with the increased thickness of the wall, enables it here to effectually withstand the action of the fire.

For convenience in casting and handling and to adapt it to various lengths of bridgewalls this wind-box is made in sections divided transversely and the sections secured to each other by suitable fastenings consisting of cap screws or bolts I, inserted in recesses J in one section and engaging suitable inwardly-projecting lugs J in the adjacent section, whereby there are no projections beyond the plane of the outer surface of the box to interfere with readily inclosing the same within the masonry of the arch. At one end of the box the open end is closed by a suitable plate, (not-shown) secured by the described fastenings or cast integral with the section, and to the other end is secured by like fastenings a suitable chamber K, preferably rectangular in form and adapted to extend through one wall of the arch and provided with a collar H 'to connect with any suitable pipe to convey air to the wind-box and also provided with a slide or gate H to adjust or cut off the flow of air thereto.

From the foregoing the operation of my in vention will be readily understood. The device is so proportioned and of such form that it will readily fit within the courses of bricks forming the bridge-wall. The ribs space apart and secure the bricks between the recesses. The material is well protected from the action of the fire, and thus made durable. The fastenings connecting the sections are wholly withinthe plane of the outer surface of the box, and the device is readily molded and handled and also adapted to any length of bridge-wall by connecting up suitable sections to form the required length, and any one section can be detached and a new one inserted and the balance continued in use, if occasion arises to repair the device.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. As an article of manufacture, a wind-box fer bridge-walls, comprising a hollow structo re having a series of openings forescape of air, a forwardly-projecting lower portion, to support bricks forming a portion of a bridgewall, and ribs on said portion opposite the openings to space apart the said bricks.

2. As an article of manufacture, a wind-box for bridge-walls comprising a hollow structure havinga forwardly-projecting lower portion to support bricks, ribs on said portion to space apart the said bricks and extending upward on the front wall of the box, and also having openings extending through the front wall and upwardly-extending ribs.

3. As an article of man ufacture, a wind-box for bridge-walls rectangular in cross-section and having a forwardly-extended lower portion, ribs on said portion and extending upward on the front wall of the box, and also having openings in the front walls and upwardly-extended ribs.

4. Asan article of manufacture,awind-box for bridge-walls provided with openings and rectangular in cross-section, and also transversely divided, inwardly-projecting recesses and lugs near the adjacent ends of the sections, fastenings in the recesses and engaging the lugs, a forwardly-projecting lower portion to said box, and ribs at intervals on the same.

series of openings and a series of ribs opposite the opening, a grate abutting against the for- Wardly-projecting portion of the box, and a bridge-wall inclosing the wind-box having a series of bricks spaced apart by the ribs to form recesses opposite the-openings.

7. The combination of a wind-box divided transversely into sections, inwardly-projecting recesses and lugs near the ends of said sections, fastenings in said recesses and engaging the lugs, a forwardly-projecting lower portion to said box, ribs on said portion, an extension on the end of the box, and provided with a collar and gate, a bridge-wall inclosing said box and having a series of bricks spaced apart by the ribs, and a grate abutting against the forwardly-projecting portion of the box.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELONSO J. GORDON. 

